Machinery for making wire fencing



April 18, 1939.

.1. B. GETz ET AL 2,155,186

MACHINERY FOR MAKING WIRE FENCING Filed Aug. 3; 1938 14 Sheets-Sheet lApril 18, 1939- J. B. GETz ET AL 2,155,186

MACHINERY FOR MAKING WIRE FENCING Filed Aug. 3, 1938 14 Sheets-Shee 2April 18, 1939.

J. B. GETZ ET AL MACHINERY FOR MAKING WIRE FENCING Filed Aug. 3, 1958E?. -/kz" INYEHTCIHE.

14 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 18, 1939.

.1. B. GETz ET AL 2,155,186

MAQHINERY FOR MAKING WIRE FENCING Filed Aug. s, 1938 14 sheets-sheet 4J. B, GETZ ET AL MACHINERY FOR MAKING WIRE FENGING April 18, 1939.

Filed Aug. 3, 1938 14 Shees-Sheet 5 Aprilr18, 1939. J, B. GETz ET A1.

MACHINERY FOR MAKING WIRE FENCING Filed Aug. 3, 1958 14 Sheets-Sheet 6April 18, 1939. J. B. GETZ Er Al.

MACHINERY FOR MAKING WIRE FENCING Filed Aug. 5, 1938 14 Sheets-Sheet '7April 18, 1939. J. B. GETZ ET Al.

MACHINERY FOR MAKING WIRE FENCING Filed Aug. 3, 1938 14 Sheets-Sheet 8April 1s, 1939. J. B. @En ET AL 2,155,186

MACHINERY FOR MAKING WIRE FENCING Filed Aug; 3, 1958 14 sheets-sheet 9IHYENT una- 14 Sheets-Sheet lO J. B. GETZ ET AL MACHINERY FOR MAKINGWIRE FENCING Filed Aug. 3, 1938 a ma Tl f wvl 8 T z 4 u I /m 4 Y E N 3|EWI .A l, M M m April 18, 1939.

E.7 r ZE! April 18, 1939. J. B. GETZ r Al.

MACHINERY FOR MAKING WIRE FENCING Filed Aug. 3, 1938 14 Sheets-Sheet ll.April 18, 1939. J, B. GETz Er AL 2,155,186

MACHINERY FOR MAKING WIRE FENCING Filed Aug. 3, 1938 14 Sheets-Sheet l2April 18, 1939.

J. B. GETZ ET AL MACHINERY FOR MAKING WIRE FENCING Filed Aug. 3, 1938 14Sheets-Sheet l5 Intra H1-runs.

April 18, 1939. J. B. GETz ET Al. 2,155,186

MACHINERY FOR MAKING WIRE FENCING Filed Aug. 5, 1938 14 Sheets-Sheet 14AEE Arr?.

Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINERY FOR MAKINGWIRE FENCING ton, Ill.

Application August 3, 1938, Serial No. 222,849

66 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in machines of the general typedisclosed in Letters Patent No. 2,082,388, of June 1, 1937, for makingwire fencing or similar products incorporating a multiplicity of linewires connected by transverse stay wires twisted or coiled thereaboutand together to provide a strong fabric for expected purposes, and offlexible character to facilitate rolling on drums or reels in theprocess of manufacture and for storage or shipment in compact rollformation.

The machine of the aforesaid patent has, within the limits of itscapabilities, proven in actual commercial practice to be practical andsuccessful; but in this art of wire fence-making many considerationspresent more or less demand for cheapening the cost of manufacturedoutput, maintenance of a nicety in uniform appearance of the product,the attaining of a variability of design as affects the spacing andnumber of the tie wires or stays, the elimination of waste, and dangerin manufacture, etc.

With the foregoing in mind, and the primary object being to perfect themechanism for fabricating a product of the character in question, thepresent invention embraces improved mechanism including adjustableinstrumentalities whereby the relatively short tie or stay wires severedfrom a continuous feed wiring in being united will be uniformlypositioned and coiled or twisted together and to complemental continuousline wires so that the resultant coils or twists will be of like numberand extent throughout the fabricated product, thereby attainingcorrespondingly uniform strength and securing of the stay wires and linewires together without, on the one hand, offering relatively weak tiesat given points and relatively strong ties at other points and, on theother hand, saving waste ensuing from excessive or non-uniform ceilingor twisting.

Inherently, the final result accomplished by the improvement just statedwill be the even, like appearance of the unions of the stay wires withthe line'I wires throughout the fabric, as

compared to similar fabrics wherein the feeds and twisting mechanismsare not provided with means whereby fixed relationships of parts may beadjusted and maintained and accommodation provided to meet expansionsand contractions of the mechanical parts and/or of the staywires tendingto vary operating relationships from an original setting-up of themechanism, even though great care be exercised in pre-arranging theparts for an initial operation of the machine.

Ancillary features of the improvements involve special formations offeeding rollers for guiding and facilitating the gripping and feeding,and freeing, at predetermined intervals, of the wiring from which thetie or stay wires are to be formed; whereby, (1) in an instance ofintermittent drive of rollers of progressively increasing diameters,certain wires will be always gripped for advancement and a companionwire or wires freed to provide a lull in its advancing movement, and.(2) in another instance of continuous drive of rollers of uniformdiameter, the variable feeding of the different wires will be attainedby the proportioning of the gripping and freeing portions of therespective rollers, so that alternate feeds and lulls in advancingmovement of the Wires will correspondingly differ in the operation ofthe several rollers.

The invention more specifically includes a feed roller having relativelyshallow and relatively deep portions extended circumferentially thereof,the relative lengths of the shallow and deep portions permitting equalperiods of wire feed and lull during the rotation of the rollers, tocoincide with a predetermined feed of companion rollers exerting aconstant grip on wires to be advanced thereby and provided withoperating mechanism causing a definite rotation thereof and definiteextent of advance of the wire.

Another object is the provision of improved twisting mechanism foruniting the tie or stay wires to the line wires, whereby a firm holdwill be had on the terminals of said stay wires while being twistedtogether, but a gradual release of said terminals from the twisterseffected as the twisting or ceiling of the terminals is completed, sothat no hold or resistance on the tie will be offered by the twisters tothe withdrawing or travel of the completed fabric away therefrom in thenormal feed of the fabric through the machine.

Additional improvement resides in the provision of means whereby acontinuous operation of the power line including the driving connectionsfor the winding roll or drum receiving the completed fabric may bepermitted while momentarily relieving the strong tension on the fabricbeing drawn from the machine after its completion and wound upon saidroll or drum so as to eliminate dangers following from a severance ofthe fabric to enable the removal of a completed roll or drum of fabric,in which operation, under normal conditions. because of the greattension referred to, the severed ends of the fabric tend to ily about,distort themselves, and

subject the operator to contact and injury from sharp ends.

Still additional improvement comprises provision, conveniently availableto the operator, for regulating and more particularly increasing thetension of driving mechanism for the winding drum or reel, so thatminimum power may be utilized in the initial windings of the reel, andadded power attained as the reel increases in its convolutions and' amore positive winding required to accommodate for the increasingdiameter of the roll of fabricated material or com- -pleted fencing onthe reel or drum.

The invention also embraces improved severing means for the tie or staywires, operating independently of positioning means for locating andintertting the ends of said tie or stay wires with the twistingmechanism, facilitating adjustment and more accurate operation thanascertained to be possible where the severing means and positioningmembers are accomplished by a common operating means; and, also, meansfor positively guiding, and therefore preventing any displacement fromoperative association of the positioning members in their to-and-fromovements relative to the twisting mechanism with which they aredevoted.

More other features of detail of parts, and associations of parts,embodied in the improved mechanism will be evident or appear from thedisclosures of the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in whichthe preferred-form of the invention is illustrated, when considered inconnection with the full description hereinafter presented, among whichare special means for obtaining rectilineal movements of the positioningor depressor members for the tie or stay wires with reference to theirtwisting mechanism, in rectilineal paths and under the actuation ofindependent devices, one devoted to each positioning or depressor memberas distinguished from operating them both by a common or singleinstrumentality; an improved eccentric and strap mechanism for varyingthe throw of certain of the operating parts of the machine; feedingmeans for the stay wires variably effective to furnish stay wires atpredetermined points in the fabricated article while omitting said staywires at other points; and more specifically, under the actuation of acontinuous drive for the stay wire feed.

Now, referring to the aforesaid drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the left side of the machine, it beingnoted that the position of the operator is at the right 0f the machineas represented in this figure and that the travel of the line wires andfabricated material is generally in the direction of from right to left,as indicated by the arrows;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the machine;

Figure 3 is an elevation, similar to that of Figure l, of the oppositeor right-hand side of the machine;

Figure 3iL is a detailed view ofthe belt-tensioning mechanismillustrated in Fig. 3;

Figure 4 is a view partly in sectionv and partly in plan takenapproximately on the line 4-4 of the machine as indicated` in Figure 2,looking downwardly in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top view of a portion of the machine,illustrating primarily the form and relationship of the transverse tieor stay feed wiring and the guiding, severing, and twisting devices;

Figure 6 is a similar view of .one of the guiding blocks and associatedparts depicted in Figure 5, portions being broken away to expose theinterior structure;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view on the line '1 -1 of Figure 6,looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 8 is a similar view on the line 8--8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a xed shear plate depicted tocooperate with the correlated cutter, the same as is provided for eachof the stay Wire guiding and twisting devices;

Figures 10 and 11, 12 and 13, and 14 and 15 are companion pairs of planand face views illustrative of successive positions of adjacent ends of.stay wires, the stay wire cutter or shear, the twister adapted to engagethe same, and the positioning means for cooperatively relating said endswith the said twister, parts being shown in section;

Figure 16 is a composite or projected series of views of one of thetwister heads to portray the top and sides thereof, the latter beingviewed at right angles to each other;

Figure 17 is a view in part elevation and part section on the lineiI-I'l of Figure 2, presenting a pair of stay wire positioning ordepressor members, an immediately associated twister head, and cutter;

Figure 18 is a like view of an upper portion of the mechanismillustrated in Figure 17, showing the positioning members and cutter intheir positions, extremely opposite to those occupied in Figure17,-Figure 18 showing the positioning members and their actuatinginstrumentalities in retracted positions, whereas in Figure 17 theseparts are in their fully stay cutting and positioning status, all withrelation to the immediately associated twister head;

Figure 19 is a detail view partly in section and partly in elevation,taken approximately on the inclined or diagonally running line |9-I9 ofFigure 18, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing one ofthe stay wire positioning members, the mounting or support therefor,

and its actuating cam mechanism;

Figure 20 is a vertical sectional view of one of the twisting devicesand certain parts of associated mechanisms, seen when looking towardsthe right of the machine as indicated by the arrows, line 2li-20 ofFigure 2;

Figure 2l is a detail sectional view, longitudinally of the machine,through the feed box for the wiring from which the transverse stays areformed, illustrating the means for obtaining predetermined feed and forresultant forming of fencing such as illustrated in Figure 2, that is,with tie or stay wires omitted from the fabric as between the upper pairof line wires, to give double spacing and a corresponding staggeredeffect;

Figure 22 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the feed box, taken onthe line 22-22 of Figure 21, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 23 is an enlarged detail view to show a special formation of oneof the feed rollers for the wiring from which the transverse stay or tiewire is cut;

Figure 24 is a view similar to Figure 23, with said specially formedfeed roll in another position with reference to the wiring, in thisinstance no feeding of the wiring being obtained, momentarily, whereasin the arrangement of the parts as shown in Figure 23 feeding is'beingaccomplished;

Figures and 26 are. respectively. fragmentary sectional views throughthe 'specially formed lfeed roll, at different portions of the latter,as

indicated by the corresponding section lines 25-25, as shownV on Figure23;

Figure 27 is a detail view of the actuating means for obtaining anintermittent rotative feed'of the feed rolls for the wiring from whichthe transverse stays or tie wires are formed;

Figure 28 is a vertical sectional view through the timing shaft, of thepull-up drum and its shaft, with eccentric-and-strap mechanism foractuating the pull-up drum from the timing shaft:

Figure 29 is an edge view of said last mentioned actuating mechanism,the pull-up drum being fragmentarily illustrated in elevation, and theassociated frame and guiding means being illustrated in section;

Figure 30 is a detached face view of the eccentric and the adapter camring surrounding the same adapted to be received in the strap, asillustrated in Figure 28;

Figure 31 is a horizontal sectional view of the eccentric and adaptercam ring, as indicated by line 3l-3I of Figure 30, intended toparticularly illustrate the locking wedges or keys between the eccentricand the adapter ring;

Figure 32 is an enlarged detail fragmentary cross-sectional view toillustrate the interfitting of the adapter ring with the eccentric atpoints intermediate the locking wedges or keys;

Figure 33 is a view similar to Figure 30, of the timing shaft andeccentric keyed thereto, with the adapter ring removed, but showing indotted lines how the adapter ring may be keyed to the eccentric inposition to give a varied throw as compared to the throw under theadjustment of the adapter ring, as illustrated in Figure 30;

Figure 34 is a detail side elevation of the actuating means for thecutters for shearing the tie or stay wires from wiring provided for thatpurpose, the position of the cams in this Figure 34 being that in whichthe cutters are in completely retracted position;

Figure 35 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 35-35 ofFigure 34, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 36 is a view similar to Figure 34, the

vcam mechanism being shown in the position oc- Figure 38 is a faceelevation of the manettes fencing (that shown in full lines) produced bythe mechanism illustrated in the preceeding figures and which fencing isshown in a more or less diagrammatic sense in Figure 2;

Figure 39 is an edge view of the fencing as illustrated in Figure 38;

Figure40 is a sectional view through one of the line wires lookingtowards the intertwisted adjoining ends of the stay or tie wires, or inthe direction of the arrows, line 40-40 of Figure 38;

Figure 41 is an elevation of a part of the righthand side of themachine, as similarly illustrated in Figure 3, but incorporating amodified type of feed mechanism for the stay or tie wiring, in thisinstance the feed rollers having provision for a continuous rotativedrive thereof as distinguished from the intermittent rotative drive vofthat embodiment of the invention illustrated in said Figure 3 and morein detail in Figures 21 to 27, both inclusive, whereby a full lengthstay type oi' fencing is produced as indicated in dotted lines in Fig.38:

Figure 421s a sectional view of the feed box of the modified form oftheinvention illustrated in Figure 4l, similar to the sectional view of thefeed -box of Figure 3, as illustrated in Figure 2l; and A Figure 43 is adetail view of a part of the continuous drive mechanism for the feedrollers and the mechanism illustrated in Figure 42.

Referring more specifically to the drawings wherein like referencecharacters designate the same parts in all views relating to a givenembodiment of the invention, and having in mind that all operationsthroughout the machine are from a primary source of power such as anelectric motor 44 (Figs. 3 and 4), reference is first madel to thegeneral course in keeping with the wiring as manipulated to produce thefabricated product, and for this purpose, and viewing especially Figures1 to 3, inclusive, it will be noted that the passage of the line wiresand ultimate fabric (the line wires bridged by and connected tothe tieor stay Wires) through the machine from the forward to the rear endthereof ls indicated by the dash-and-dot line 45-46 (Fig. 1), the travelbeing shown by the arrows, 45 indicating the line wires as fed throughthe machine and 46 the fabric comprising said wires connectedtransversely to the stay or tie wires. These line wires in any numberdesired and suitably spaced apart are fed into the machine at theforward base portion thereof, thence upwardly in a vertical directionthrough the zone generally indicated at 41 (Fig. 1) in which the wiringto form the ties or stays is supplied from a direction at right anglesto the vertical travel of the line wires, and also where the tie or staywiresare cut of desired length and twisted together and to the linewires, all of which will be pointed out more denitely later on, Fromthis tie or stay wire applying zone the fabricated product passesupwardly `around a drum 48, thence downwardly around a pull-up drum 49and again upwardly and around a second drum 50 from which it passesdownwardly around a crimping roll 5I, from which the fabric again takesan upward course around a third drum 52 from which a winding drum 53draws and winds the fabric into roll formation, the fabric at thispassage or rear end of the machine taking an outward and downwardinclined course from the drum 52 to the winding drum, spool or reel 53.

'Ihe various drums referred to and the operating devices therefor are ofcourse mounted upon a suitably supported and firmly braced frameworkdesirably of metal comprising, in the main, a pair of strong rigid metalcastings or side frames 54 constituting the opposite sides of themachine, spaced a suitable distance apart to accommodate the interior ofthe mechanical parts of the machine and united together not only by thevarious shaftings to be described but also by strong crossbeams ofchannel metal 55 and tie rods 56, the latter being at the top of themachine and the channel beams at the bottom, for convenient application,and the rods passing through the side frames 54 and the beams beingseated and bolted in complemental recesses 51 formed in the end edges ofthe metalsides. The drums 48, 58, and 52 are alike in character,occupying the same horizontal plane. and are provided with shafts 88,59, and 80 mounted on the top of the side frames 54 and suitablebearings 5|, as shown, the upper portions of the bearings beingremovable by simply unboltlng the same for withdrawal and replacement ofthe drums. as will be obvious. These drums 48, 59, and 52 are of alength to substantially span the space between the side frame members54. 'Ihis is also true of the length of the pull-up drum 49 and of thecrimping roll 5I, the shaft 82 of the latter being supported in suitablebearings 83 on the side frame members in substantially the same manneras the drums, as 48, 50 and 52 are removably supported in place.

For the sake of economy and ease of manufacture, the eventual windingdrum or roll 53 is supported'in similar bearings 94 on a separatelyformed metallic frame or stand 85 held in operative relationship to themain frame members 54 of the machine by rigid metal bars 88 bolted attheir opposite ends to the stand 55 and to the main frame, respectively.

'I'he pull-up drum 49 is supported by slidable bearing blocks` 61movable upwardly and downwardly in slideways 68 formed in the side framemembers 54. The to-and-fro movement of the pull-up drum, for purposeswell understood in the art, being accomplished by positive drivingmechanism, will be pointed out in detail. 'I'he drive therefor isprimarily through a small gear or pinion 89 mounted on or keyed to whatmay be appropriately designated the timing 'shaft 10 for all of thecritical or working parts and timing of the machine.

Now, referring to Figure 4, it will be seen that this timing shaft 18receives its rotation and correspondingly rotates the pinion 89 throughthe medium of a large gear 1| at the end of the shaft 18 projectingbeyond the oppositeslde of the machine, thesame meshing with a smallgear or pinion 12 which derives its power from the motor 44 by means ofa pulley 13 adapted to be clutched to the shaft 14 and provided with abelt 15 passing around a pulley 18 mounted directly on the shaft of themotor 44, 11 being the main clutch of the machine, adapted to be throwninto and out of connecting position through any suitable means engaginga shaft collar 18 (Fig. 2), the details of which clutch may be optionalwith the user and need not befspecically pointed out herein.

To rotate the crimper roll 5| a large gear 19 is attached to that end ofthe' crimper roll shaft 82 in immediate engagement with the small gear89 for the pull-up drum, so that the rotation of ithe small gear orpinion 69 will effect the desired rotation of the crimper roll.

It being remembered that the motor 44 through the lpulley-and-beltarrangement is driving the pulley 13, power may be taken off the shaft14 of the latter to effect the drive of the winding roll or drum 53mounted on the shaft 84, this being accomplished by the gearing to theshaft 14 at ,the outer end thereof, another pulley 80 around which abelt 8| passes and communicates motion to a pulley 82- mounted on ashaft 83 supported in suitable bearings on the auxiliary frame or stand55, so that through the medium of a small gear or pinion 84 on saidpulley shaft 83, engaging with a large gear 85 fixed to the shaft 84 ofthe winding drum 53, the latter will be rotated.

At this point it may be well to state that the slippage between the belt8| and pulley 82 and/or the pulley 80 will compensate for the increasingdiameter of the ultimately rolled fabric roll. while permitting thewinding drum or reel to normally possess continuous rotation; butoccasions arise when it is desirable to control and adjust the tensionand render more or less positive the drive for the roll and drum. Tothis end. at one side of the machine, namely, adjacent the motor, thereis provided another auxiliary` supporting stand 86 in which a belttightener capable of severe ad- `justment with reference to the belt 8|is mounted. This belt tightener is in -the nature of a roller 81arranged to impinge against the under surface of the lower run of thebelt 8|, said roller being mounted in bearing blocks 88 `verticallymovable in slideways 89 formed in the castings constituting theauxiliary'stand or support 88. The means -aorded for shifting thebearing blocks in said slideways and correspondingly shifting saidroller consists of a pinion 98 engaging a rack 9| overhanging to someextent the slideways 89, the shaft 92 on which vthe roller 81 is sleevedbut to which the gear 88 is xed being provided with an adjustablemanually operable lever 93 extended to be within convenientaccessibility to the operator of the machine by means of a link 94adapted to be adjustably held in anyone of the apertures of a bracket 95by a pin ,98 on any convenient support, the details being suicientlyshown in -Figure 3A.

In view ofthe fact that the completed fabric roll on the drum or reel58, especially where severe tightness exists in the belt 8|, will exertgreat tension on the downwardly and outwardly drawn fabric, traversingthe inclined path from the drum 52 to said winding drum 53, and it beingnecessary to cut the fabric transversely thereacross to permit theremoval of a illled reel or completed roll, some means must be providedto momentarily relieve the strain or tension on the portion of thefabric to be cut in order to prevent the same from flying about underits springy action resulting from the relief of tension, correspondinglydistorting the fabric or in instances injuring the operator who isperforming the severing operation, or other persons in proximity to themachine. This means is an auxiliary clutch, that is, a clutchsupplemental to the main clutch 11 which is adapted to control the powerof the entire machinery,-capable Aof releasing the winding reel or drumfrom the rotative force of the normal mechanism, while permitting thelatter to continue in its operation. Such clutch is represented at 91keyed to the shaft 83 driven by the wooden pulley 82 from the belt 8|,the clutch 91 being adapted to be moved backwardly along the shaft 83from operative clutching position with the small gear 84 which drivesthe large gear 85 of the winding reel or drum. Any suitable meansadapted to engage the collar 98 of the clutch 91 will effect slowingdown and stopping of the movement of the reel or drum so that thetension on the oncoming fabric is relieved and the diiiiculties justrecited obviated during the shearing of the fabric. The cut end of thefabric being attached to a fresh reel or drum andv the clutch 91 havingbeen forced home, that is into clutch-engagement, with the gear 84 todrive 4the same through theL shaft 83, the winding of the fabric asdelivered from the machine will continue as before.

Continuing, with reference to the driving mechanism for the machine,controlled as previously stated by the timing shaft 18, and againinspecting Figure 1, it will be seen that there is a sprocket chain .99receiving'power from a cooperating sprocket |00 on the shaft 10, whichchain extends upwardly and towards the front of the machine to provide ahorizontal run of the sprocket transmitting power to sprockets |0| and|02 on shafts |03 and |04 for certain operating cams to effect theoperation of stay or tie wire positioning or depressor members, as willbe later developed in this specification, an idler sprocket |05 beingmounted beneath the lower run of the sprocket chain 90 to support andtake up slack in the chain or tension the same, as may be desired.

The positioning members moved through the instrumentality of thesprocket chain and gears Just described are to be seen at |06 and |01 inFigure l but are shown with clearness and in detail in Figures 17 to 19,inclusive, the cooperating cutter being shown at |08, the same andcompanion cutters being manipulated through connections also derivingpower from the timing shaft 10.

'IheY drive for the twisters that cooperate with the cutters andpositioning members, thus far but generally referred to, is taken offthe shaft 14 through a gear |09 engaging a companion gear 0 (Figs. 2 and20) on a shaft disposed transversely of the machine and having othersuitable gear connection means with the twisters to impart movementthereto from said shaft In that form of the invention wherein there isan intermittent actuation of feed rolls for the Wiring from which thetie or stay wires are to be formed, the power for obtaining the saidintermittent actuation is, as disclosed insaid Letters Patent No.2,082,388 hereinabove referred to, derived from a crank ||2, (Figs. 2and 4), on the timing shaft 10, universally connected with a rockingbeam, so to speak, ||3 by a link connection ||4, the latter havinguniversal connections H5 and ||6 at its opposite ends with said crankand rocking beam.

The power-supplying mechanism for the various steps or features of themachine utilized in the sequence of operations in forming the fencinghaving been understood, and the same being in general respects quitesimilar to that of the aforesaid patent, although improved in specicinstances, as will be appreciated, the present improvements ofindividual mechanisms for forming, manipulating, and cooperativelyassociating elements of the fabricated fencing will be now discussed.

The feeding means ,for the wiring from which the transverse stays or tiewires are cut-I |1 is a. wire feed. box at the front end of the machine,the same being provided on one side thereof with a multiplicity ofapertured guide .plates H0 in keeping with the number of wires to bepassed transversely of the line wires to furnish the desired number ofstays. -Aligned with these apertured guide plates and through whichlatter the wiring is introduced from any suitable source of supply, areany number of cooperating feed rollers to correspond with anypredetermined operation of the/machine as to number of tie or staywires, comprising a series of rollers 9, each having a continuousperipheral groove |20 and complemental presser rolls |2|individuallymounted in a reciprocal carrier |22 backed by adjustablebolt-and-spring pressure devices |23 to cause firm peripheral contact ofone individual smooth peripheral roll |2| with and over the groove |20of one of the series of rollers IIS. The rollers ||9 are vremovablymounted in any desired number on the shaft |24 while the individuallyreciprocal rolls |2| are closely related and ll the space within thefeed box |I1 so as to maintain them in cooperative relationship andtheir carriers |22 in slldable contact with each other. The shaft |24 iskeyed with an actuating gear |25 driven by a gear |26 through theinterpositioning and intermeshing of a third gear |21 loosely mounted ona stub shaft |28, from the shaft |29 which is the shaft that supportsthe rocking beam ||3 and on which the latter is sleeved for rockingmovement under the influence of the universal linkage ||4 and crank ||2continuously operated from the timing shaft 10, as heretofore explained.The gear |26 is actuated under the influence of the rocking beam ||3because of the presence of a spring-pressed pawl |30 engageable with aratchet |3| keyed to the shaft |29 on which the gear |26 is fast sothat, through the gearing |21 and |25 the shaft |24 of the latter willbe positively driven at intervals to correspondingly rotate the rollersIIS. The wiring from which the cross ties or stays are to be formedhaving previously been introduced into the grooves |20 of the rollers H0and between the same and the flat faces of the cooperating rollers |2|,and the latter havingstrong peripheral frictional engagement with therollers ||9 and wires passing therebetween, the wires will be fedthrough and out of the feed box to the appropriate extent to positionthem in the proper relationship to the cutting, positioning and twistingmechanisms, in keeping with the requirements of the fabric to beproduced by the machine. The degree of rotation of the grooved rollers||3 is of course dependent on the degree of rocking movement of therocking beam ||3, and the extent of feed of the wiring ls determined bythe size, that is diameter, of the grooved rollers H0.

.It is desirable at times, for purpose of design or even to save wirewhere tie or stay wires may be eliminated, for example as shown in thestaggered or Wide spacing of the stays between the upper line wiresillustrated at the left of the fabric (Figure 2 or Fig. 38), to preventthe feed of any certain wiring or wires from which the stays are to beformed while not interfering with the uniform actuation of the means forim-l parting movement to the rollers to allow for such an operation.'Ihe roller |32, constituting one of the series of feed rollers and inall other respects the same as the rollers H9, is modified to the extentthat the grooved portion |33 corresponding to the groove |20 in therollers ||0 extends but part way around the periphery of the roll |32and opens to a substantially enlarged gooved portion |34 extendingaroundthe remainder of the periphery of the roll |32, the size of thecrosssectional area of the space providedby this relatively enlargedgrooved portion being such that the wire will not be impinged upon bythe companion pressor roll |2| thereabove and the grooved roller willsimply slip on the wire so that there is no feed thereof during thephase of rotation of the Isaid enlarged grooved portion beneath thesame.

' In the embodiment of the wire feed mechanism immediately underconsideration, and wherein the endless grooved rollers IIB are providedwith intermittent operation, the rollers ||3 are, of course, always inpressing relationship to their companion rollers 2| so that the wiresfrom which the stays are to be formed are constantly gripped. The extentof advancement of the stay wires is determined by the step-by-steprotation of the rollers I9, and the variance in the extents of advanceof the wires is accomplished by the difference in the diameters-of therollers' relative to each other. It is preferable that the the wireunder the action of saidshallow portion or the groove shan be effectivethrough one-half revolution thereof. Now, assuming the wire to occupythe relatively .deep portion |34 of this particular roller and the samehas rotated past the wire (the wire being free and thereby preventedfrom feeding), as the higher point of the base of the relatively shallowgroove rotates around towards the wire and elevates the wire away fromthe base of the relatively deep portion of the groove and towards thecompanion friction roller and, in fact, also as said base of the shallowgroove is departing from the gripping engagement with the wire, there isin both instances a tendency to feed wire. To allow for this tendencyand insure the advancing of the wire for one-half the revolution of theroller '|32 in correspondence with the half-revolution advancing feed ofthe rollers ||3, the relatively shallow portion |33 of the roller |32 isslightly Vshorter in circumferential extent than the length of therelatively deeper portion |34 of the groove. This accomplishes theultimate effect of having the wire engaged by the relatively shallow orgripping portionof the groove to advance the wire quite -accuratelyduring one-half revolution of .the roller and to similarly free the wirefrom any gripping and advancing movement during the otherhalf-revolution of the roller; that is, during the predetermined lull inthe feeding of wire of this particular instance, as distinguished fromthe immediate or regular succession of feeds by the continuous uniformlygrooved rollers H3.

'I'he advantage to be gained by resort to these grooved' feed rollerswith grooved portions of varying sizes, for the purpose outline, is animportantly novel and meritorious factor in the operation of the presentmachine.

Leading from right to left the machine and receiving the wiring, for thetie or stay wires as they are projected out of the rear of the feed box||1, are a series of flexible metal tubes |35 'for guiding the wiringtransversely through the machine, and disposing the same in properrelationship to severing, positioning, and twisting devicescooperatively related to the line wires that thefrespective stays areintended to bridge and fasten together. Y

The means for relatively disposing the wiring from. which the stay ortie wires are cut and the severing' means therefor.-As heretofore, thereextends transversely through the machine, a sturdy integral steel membersuitably styled a bed or bolster |33 rigidly secured to the upright sideplates or castings 54. It is this bed or bolster that supports thewire-locating devices, part of the cutting means, the twisters, andreceives the forces imparted thereto under the actuation of guiding andpositioning means for the stay or tie wires with reference to thetwisters. It also helps to support and render more stable the movablecutter elements and the cams and devices associated with the positioningmeans for the wires constituting the stays or ties with reference to thetwisters and the line wires that, as usual,

pass through the twisters. Mounted on the bed |33 is a series of blocks|31 (Fig. 5) in which the ends of the flexible tubes |35 are held byscrews |3I. The length of the blocks is determinative of the length ofthe wire needed to bridge the space between the adjacent line wiresallowing for terminal portions to be twisted together and to said linewires, so that as also again seen in Figure 40, the spacing between theline wires may be regulated and provided in closer or wider spacedrelationship, for example by providing the line wires closer together,at the bottom portion ofa fence or at any portion thereof to berendered stronger than other portions. 'I'he different widths of theblocks |31 and corresponding different spacing of the line wires isclearly shown in Figure 5.

The twisters |33 are disposed in vertical position, one in each of thespaces between the adjacent pairs of blocks |31, and the ends of thestay wires are extended across these spaces in parallelism so that theline wires occupy a midposition therebetween, the wiring to be severedbeing conducted through one of the flexible tubes |35, through the blockadjacent which the same is to be cut, into and through a seating groove|33 opening outwardly from the upper surface of the next adjacent blockand thence to' abutting contact with the end wall of the succeedingblock (a separate abutment |31n being secured to the bolster |36 beyondthe far or outermost twister of the series); the corresponding 'parallelstay wire being seated in and passed through a correspondingly opengroove in the immediate block where the cutting of the iirst mentionedwire is taking place. 'I'his leaves two oppositely extending terminalportions of stay wires to be presented to the twisting device forwrapping or coiling together and to-the line wire passing therebetweenfollowing the severing operation. The wire to be severed conductedthrough the flexible tube l 35 has, as usual, been passed through thetapered end |33'L and the bore |40 of a hard metal guide |4| snugly ttedin the block |31 and truly aligned with an opening in the steel cutting'member or shear plate |42 provided with an aperture |43, the aperture|43 and bore |40 being ,of substantially the same diameter as the wire,and the edge of the cutting member |42 immediately surrounding itsaperture |43 coacting with one of the cutters |03 to sever the stay wireflush with the surface of the cutting member |42. When this particularstayv wire has been thus cut, the companion stay wire having itsoppositely extending end also free, the two terminal portions ofthe'parallel wires are properly located and ready for depression intotwisting relationship with the twister |33. The cutting member |42 isL-shaped, as shown in Figure 9, to allow space thereabove for theflexible guides |33, and has anop'ening |43 for thewire in the verticalportion thereof above the securing bolt opening |44 through which thebolt |45 may be passed into threaded engagement with a block4 |31, anopening |46 being provided in the horizontal face of the L-shapedcutting member to one side of the bolt opening |44 for the reception ofa dowel pin |41 integral with the face of the block to more firmly holdsaid cutting member from displacement, as by turning on the attachingbolt |45.

The primary cutting means |03 comprises a steel blade having a sharpbeveled cutting edge |43 arranged to be thrust through the stay wire |43'to sever the same by shearing action (Figs. 17 and 18). The bladesinclude relatively heavy

